But there is still much more to do. The Confederate flag dates back to the time of the American Civil War, where the southern states seceded and fought for the right to keep slaves. It may come as a surprise that such a controversial and divisive symbol still has a place within American culture and society, but the flag has flown in the grounds of the State House in South Carolina – the first state to secede, back in 1860 – for over fifty years.
Supporters of the flag have argued that it has historic relevance, serving as a memory of ancestors who fought in the war, whilst also representing a key principle many people in the south hold dear: states’ individual rights. However, opponents of the flag say that it is a racist symbol of hate and white supremacy. They point to the fact that it was popularized in its current design in the 1950-60s as a symbol against the civil rights movement. The arguments and controversies surrounding the flag have been going on for years, being just one of the many things contributing to the difficult race relations in the United States.
The USA has been rocked by a number of significant events over the past few years, from Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, Michael Brown’s shooting in Ferguson and then earlier this year, the homicide of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Most recently, the massacre of nine black members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, brought race relations to the headlines once again. Pictures of Dylann Roof, the accused, posing with the Confederate flag have appeared online, along with his own writings describing his extreme and racist views.
From the aftermath of this tragic event, lawmakers in South Carolina have agreed to remove the flag from the State House grounds. That flag is being permanently taken down today. This can be seen as a positive step in repairing struggling race relations in the United States, but there is still much more to be done. For example, the unemployment rate of the black population in the United States is 10.9%, compared to the national average of 5.5%, and the incarceration rate of black males stands at 37% whilst they only make up 12.2% of the national population.
The removal of the Confederate flag on state grounds may symbolize moving on from the past, but lets hope the problems and issues we face today are not forgotten in the process.
